When you buy the harmon kardon setup do you get a different head unit? Or does the HK system just come with the amp and different speakers? (I have an 03 if this makes a difference).

Thanks!

 

The MINI H/K system uses the exact same head unit. Same part number, same electronics. However, the head unit detects the presence of the H/K system and does offer some additional DSP controls.

Note however that the H/K utilizes a completely different wiring harness than the standard stock stereo. This makes it very complicated to retrofit the H/K to a MINI that doesn't have it... but it is possible (hey - anything's possible if you have the time and/or money!).

I am in the reverse situation. I have the H/K... and I want to rip it out and put the (far superior) OEM Digital Power Sound Modul (DPSM) stereo in instead. However, the DPSM is only designed to be used with the standard wiring harness, not the H/K one.

I am about to embark on what many people would consider pure insanity - actually ripping out the entire H/K, AND the wiring harness, putting the standard wiring harness in, and installing the DPSM.

Only I'm not doing it... the dealer is. No, it won't be cheap (at all... lots of labor involved!), but I don't trust myself with dismantling and reassembling the MINI interior... and I want the dealer to still cover the DPSM warranty afterwards. Also, I have a very good working relationship with my dealer due to all of the work they've done on my car (there's a reason it's called Mr. OEM!), so I am confident they will treat me better than any other dealer would.

Are you sure you want the H/K? Consider the DPSM... if you don't have the H/K, it's actually quite a decent value. Sounds incredible... very clear -AND- very loud at the same time.

If you are serious about the H/K, I will probably have all of my H/K parts available for sale very soon!

 

Actually my reasoning for asking is that I just replaced my entire stock system with an Alpine headunit, amps, and polk speakers. I wanted to sell my stock system on ebay. Upon looking at ebay I noticed that some units have sold on ebay as HK and it looked exactly the same as my headunit!

It's actually not that tough although i did remove all the seats and carpeting and panels. It's a lot of work but very rewarding. As soon as my new amps arrive (the ones i used initially didn't have enough power for my taste), I'll be all done

 

Ah OK... I suspect they are simply listing them as HK in order to justify charging more. Either that, or they are clueless about the fact that they are the exact same HU... but theirs was pulled out of an HK MINI.